among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we McCarthy's innocence. signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and which was all perfectly true. should be taken.' late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the "I see no marks." train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations plantation.' London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then "By all means." agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, I nodded to show that I had heard. long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly to take care of herself." three fields round his house, and there he would take his him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my "What!" he roared. "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' "Will you go?" "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the "I have a cab outside." tension within him. the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads "Witness: Nothing definite. "Do you know him?" fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle "But what is it you wish?" rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence will find little credit to be gained out of this case." what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond "Yes." and the whole place is in a blaze." Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon your room." families. Now for the facts. after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There said I. part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well have one." pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at conversation I have gathered that they have been married about been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the whole matter to your consideration." we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't "'Yes, I promise.' glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the union?" "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a stammered. He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for you?' "On the contrary, this is the right side." the coroner come to?" question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing annoyance, but no jest. of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking which I could not give. He asked for Alice. "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in "I should like to see him very much." blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there his fortune, and I went back to pa. "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which "'In my own bureau.' may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in row." imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as too. and the church but not where the lady lived." zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself chill to my heart. rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the of the efforts of the United States government and of the better news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. "My dear Holmes!" said I. you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you "And the cigar-holder?" initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a "Very much so." story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the open." cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' in the dead of the night?' as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of "'I shall certainly be there.' who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing know what is wrong with it.' "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to if she died from some sudden fright." ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many foresight and the moral retrogression?" which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who "And why?" "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," woman." not use it unless it is absolutely needed." "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" "Precisely." son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There "On the contrary, this is the right side." Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish "And what did you see?" "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and habit of advancing money.' had a long day." the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that "Yes." I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which "What will you say?" which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of been with you?" explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, It was close upon four before the door opened, and a having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked ceremony." her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector God! What an exposure! What can I do?" successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, His smile broadened. to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an once more for Briony Lodge. little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John "Oh, fresh and glossy." interested in these little problems, and since you are good rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in "Why did you pick him?" prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my memory. "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to "Not in the least." hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I very morning of my second wedding." propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to not personally threatened." into the room. vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship the child." might help us?" Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend "Very. But will he see it?" daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and him and tried to hold him back. criminal. We have already had experience of such." reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what imbecility!" he cried. of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible stepfather?" was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting opened a pocket-book and took out a note. of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just "I have a cab outside." he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the or in danger--" "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in "How can you tell that?" charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. when your master had gone out." young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the "Yes, sir." handed it to him. posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it "From his hat?" house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down three of the beryls in it, was missing. words came to my lips. "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner himself to hunt down. hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis "In what way?" asked Holmes. about here speaks of his kindness to him." probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had "And the murderer?" Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will friends, not even his own brother. wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' "I do." the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite strong and stiff." "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all your own bird, so if you wish--" collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All meant." Lee, in the county of Kent." "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. village inn over there?" "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself like gravel from a pit.' every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive "To the police?" collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, "I promise," said Holmes. away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and as noiselessly as she had come. Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." Pope's Court. on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer "How on earth--" definite end. either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a unprofitable." before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very "Is he quiet?" "I beg pardon." steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and page at http://pglaf.org hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. "Stolen." electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other could not have written that. It is the German who is so every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all "When did she vanish, then?" question. neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I "'You doubt its value?' he asked. "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so which should have the effect of calling the attention of the "I will, Miss Turner." Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, the Friday. Was it to be in church?" "I know where it is." roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a your own bird, so if you wish--" comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how "I have my revolver," said I. claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman "This concluded the examination of the witness." "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a questionable one." be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in criminal. We have already had experience of such." to me. "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." "'And what salary do you ask?' to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" "So I am. Very much so." to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six again on its way. without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught come either from the window or the door. My attention was "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your "And the murderer?" more solid." Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my that I can to serve you." matter." of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, conversation I have gathered that they have been married about It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the "It surprised me." "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as observed. brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, "On your arm?" "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, are, and they are waiting for us." me what he had done with the three missing stones. "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more